Fall Sports Season Kicks Off Today

Wes Vork-NSO

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Aug 16

Kerry Rodd-NSO

And it all begins again! The day many high school athletes have been waiting all summer for has arrived! Football, volleyball, tennis and cross country teams are all reporting today for their first official day of practice after holding captains practices for the past couple of weeks.

Football teams from around the area will especially be happy with a forecast that is calling for temperatures to be in the low 70’s with a light breeze. Last year high temperatures with high humidity made for a stifling heat and difficult days of practice during two-a-days which are the norm for most teams in the state of Minnesota.

The Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels will take to the field as defending Section 7aa champs as well as Class AA state runners up. The experience gained by the younger players from participating in the state tournament the past several years should bode well for the Rebels.

Two area teams will be greeting new coaches today including; AlBrook and Carlton. The Falcons will welcome Dan DuPay as their new coach and Carlton will welcome Dennis Korman as their head coach.

The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls tennis team has been holding captains practices for a couple of weeks and longtime head coach Steve Rickstrom will be back at the helm to lead the Jacks.

Mike Bushey is back again as the Cloquet cross country coach and will greet his runners today as well to what should be fantastic conditions.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com